Nigeria Book Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Place Despite Late Tunisia Fightback
Ex- Continent's Best Player of the Year the Napoli star helped his team build a commanding lead, but the Super Eagles were compelled to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from their opponents to progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being held in the host nation.
The Super Eagles seemed to be cruising in their Group C encounter in the Moroccan city, enjoying a 3-0 cushion with only a quarter of an hour left courtesy of strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension escalated when Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick after a video assistant referee review identified a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel. The left-back calmly slotted home in the 87th minute to create a frantic conclusion.
The Carthage Eagles were inches away from a stunning equalizer in added time, with captain Ferjani Sassi heading a chance narrowly wide before Ismael Gharbi sent a half-volley past the upright.
Securing First Place
The victory ensures that Nigeria, champions of the competition on 3 past instances, advance to 6 group points and are guaranteed first place in Group C with one game left to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed side from one of the other preliminary groups.
In the other match, Tunisia remain on 3 group points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point each after playing out a one-all stalemate in the day's other fixture.
The final pool matches will see the group leaders stay in the city to play the Cranes on Tuesday, while Tunisia return to Rabat to face Tanzania.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to offer Tunisia a glimmer of hope of earning a draw.
The Super Eagles, finalists in the 2023 tournament, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be feeling relieved.
What seemed set to be a comfortable last period morphed into a nerve-wracking conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for offside before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the bottom corner from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was doubled soon in the second half when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to thump in a powerful nod from a set-piece kick.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the third goal, only for Montassar Talbi to direct a header past the Nigerian shot-stopper to initiate the comeback.
The key incident arrived when a high ball hit the arm of the full-back, with the official awarding a penalty after reviewing the VAR monitor.
Despite Ali Abdi's successful penalty, Tunisia ultimately fell short of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Their fate remains in their control; a draw against Tanzania will be sufficient to secure progression, and their coach will be eager to prevent a repeat of the 2013 group-stage exit that led to his previous resignation.
